A MOMENT WITH MARIANO SAID

Mariano Said had decided to pursue theatre for real back in 1996, when he enrolled in an acting course whilst on holiday in Australia.

The first opportunity on stage came with Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew that same year. This was followed by various character parts with several theatre companies, such as The Elephant Man, La Lupa, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Paul and Caravaggio.

He’s also been involved in an array of TV dramas over the last 20 years, including Gizelle, Erwieħ Imkassbra, Anġli, La Farfalla, Is-Salib tal-Fidda, Delitti Maltin, and most recently in Iċ-Ċaqqufa.

What had led you to theatre and film?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always felt a passion for cinema and theatre. Once I followed my course in Australia, opportunities started to come by.

What advice would you give to anyone who’s interested in trying to break into acting?

Start your acting experience in theatre. Workshops are necessary. Do not refuse small parts, they will always be the starting point. Do not lose hope; pursue your dreams. Once you garner experience in the theatre, you’ll be able to go in front of the camera, which is a completely different medium but still interesting. Do accept criticism and be ready to persevere. Every experience is an emotion and memory which you can translate into your future roles.

What other things do you cherish in life?

Love, companionship and wine.

Is fashion an important part of your life?

Fashion is not so important to me, in the sense that I follow the latest trends, but I don’t necessarily stick to them.

What’s going on with society today?

Friction may arise for various reasons between couples. Without going into specifics, people change and what seemed idyllic yesterday may turn upside down. Society has evolved and will continue to evolve and outlooks will differ all the time.

Are you a hoarder or do you regularly throw stuff out?

I’m actually a bit of a hoarder! Not everything, but I tend to attach myself to things.